About St. Frances Cabrini · Lebanon, Tennessee
St. Frances Cabrini is a Roman Catholic parish in Lebanon, Tennessee, belonging to the Diocese of Nashville. The community worships at 300 S. Tarver Avenue and serves approximately 720 registered families. The parish offers a bilingual schedule of Masses in English and Spanish, along with daily weekday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and an active Hispanic Ministry, Knights of Columbus council, Legion of Mary, and Prayer Shawl Ministry. Named for America's first canonized saint — St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, patroness of immigrants — the parish carries forward her missionary spirit in a community that has grown steadily since its dedication in 1953.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (Mother Cabrini), first American citizen to be canonized a saint; co-memorial also of Frances Crowley, in whose honor the Catholic Extension Society of Chicago made a substantial donation to build the church.
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Mundakal, CMI
- Diocese
- Diocese of Nashville
Why belong here
St. Frances Cabrini offers a warm, bilingual Catholic home in the heart of Wilson County, with a full weekly schedule of English and Spanish Masses, daily weekday Masses preceded by Eucharistic Adoration, and a robust Hispanic Ministry that follows the patroness of immigrants in welcoming newcomers. The parish is large enough to sustain active apostolates like the Knights of Columbus Council 9787, the Legion of Mary, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, and a religious education program serving dozens of families, yet small enough that parishioners know one another by name. With the new church building dedicated in 2017, an engaged pastoral and finance council, and a pastor devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Frances Cabrini is a community where families can plant deep roots for generations.
Mass times at St. Frances Cabrini
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Sundays: 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM
- Or by appointment (call 615-444-0524)
Adoration times
- Before every weekday Mass: 7:00 AM
- Thursdays: 6:00 PM
- 1st Saturdays: 7:00 AM
- 1st Saturdays (Spanish Holy Hour): 7:00 PM
Parish History
Catholic life in Lebanon goes back to 1915, when Rev. John Cunningham celebrated the first Mass in the home of John J. Martin, Sr. For the next fifteen years Masses were celebrated irregularly in private homes, including the Martin home on West Spring Street where the future Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago, Rev. Samuel Stritch, said Mass around 1922. From 1930 onward, Rev. Harold DesChamps of the Nashville Cathedral offered regular Masses at Seagraves Funeral Home, the Cumberland University Chapel, and Castle Heights Military Academy. After the war, the Castle Heights library became the community's worship home, with the young Father James Niedergeses (later Bishop of Nashville) adding a portable altar and curtains to make it feel more like a church.
- 1951: Msgr. George Rohling obtains permission from Bishop William Adrian to build a church.
- 1952: Five acres purchased from Cumberland University; church built over the year; first Mass celebrated a week before Christmas.
- April 19, 1953: Bishop Adrian officially dedicates the new church under the name St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, in honor of the newly canonized American saint and of benefactress Frances Crowley.
- 1964: Property south of the church purchased for a future rectory.
- 1967: Rev. Edgar M. Kelly becomes the parish's first in-resident priest.
- 1975: Religious education classrooms added; new wing dedicated to the memory of Porter Robinson, a Parish Council member killed while painting the church.
- 2015–2017: Current church building constructed and dedicated in November 2017.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by a Carmelite of Mary Immaculate pastor, two deacons, and a small lay staff. The pastor, Rev. Joseph Mundakal, CMI, grew up in Kerala, India, was ordained on May 12, 1983, and came to the United States in 1991 to serve the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, before joining the Diocese of Nashville in 1999. Within the diocese he has served as associate pastor of St. Joseph in Madison, TN, and as pastor of Sacred Heart in Loretto, Sacred Heart in Lawrenceburg, St. Francis of Assisi in Dover, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Tennessee Ridge, before being assigned to St. Frances Cabrini. He is described on the parish website as gifted in music and devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, making many pilgrimages to Medjugorje.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph Mundakal, CMI ([email protected])
- Deacon: Chris Simpson
- Deacon: Luis Ascencio
- Parish Secretary: Agata Jimenez ([email protected])
- Bookkeeper: Beverly Haley ([email protected])
- Director of Religious Education: Rosa Mizzoni ([email protected])
- Asst. Director of Religious Education: Maria Elena Hernandez ([email protected])
Parish Councils
The parish is led jointly by the pastor, two deacons, and elected lay councils that guide the spiritual, pastoral, and financial life of St. Frances Cabrini.
- Pastoral Council — chaired by a layperson, with the pastor and both deacons as members, and representatives for liturgy, formation, Hispanic Ministry, and other apostolates.
- Finance Council — provides financial oversight and stewardship of parish resources.
- Trustees and parish officers — including Secretary and Finance Council representative roles.
Hispanic Ministry
St. Frances Cabrini's Hispanic Ministry is one of the most active apostolates in the parish, living out the patroness of immigrants' missionary spirit by welcoming Catholics from every country. The ministry coordinates its own Mass schedule, a Spanish-language Holy Hour on 1st Saturdays, and a full slate of formation, liturgical, and outreach programs.
- Mass in Spanish: Thursdays at 7:00 PM and Sundays at 1:00 PM
- RICA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in Spanish): Sundays at 9:30 AM
- Spanish Holy Hour: 1st Saturdays at 7:00 PM
- Spanish Holy Day of Obligation Mass: 7:00 PM
- Choir / Coro: Nancy Garcia ([email protected])
- RICA coordinator: Maria Elena Hernandez ([email protected])
- Quinceañeras: Heidy Hernandez ([email protected])
- Liturgical Ministries: Olga Gonzalez Watkins ([email protected])
- Food Pantry: Dalia Ascencio ([email protected])
- Marriage / Matrimonio: Maria Elena Hernandez ([email protected])
- Security: Pedro Hernandez
Parish Ministries & Apostolates
Beyond the Hispanic Ministry, the parish sustains a number of long-standing lay apostolates that serve the parish and the wider Lebanon community.
- Knights of Columbus Council 9787 — Catholic fraternal service organization; hosted the parish's 70th anniversary picnic on April 22, 2023.
- Legion of Mary — lay apostolic group devoted to Marian prayer and evangelization.
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — parishioners craft blankets and shawls for those in need of comfort; no experience required; meeting dates listed in the parish bulletin.
- Outreach Ministries — including a parish food pantry coordinated through the Hispanic Ministry (Dalia Ascencio).
- Religious Education / Faith Formation — parish-wide catechesis for children and adults, led by Rosa Mizzoni (DRE) and Maria Elena Hernandez (Asst. DRE).
Religious Education & Sacraments
Faith formation is offered to children and adults, with the Spanish-language RICA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) meeting on Sundays to prepare adults for full initiation into the Catholic Church. The parish office coordinates preparation for the sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, and Quinceañera.
- Director of Religious Education: Rosa Mizzoni ([email protected])
- Asst. Director of Religious Education: Maria Elena Hernandez ([email protected])
- RICA (Spanish): Sundays at 9:30 AM
- Marriage preparation: Maria Elena Hernandez ([email protected])
- Quinceañera coordination: Heidy Hernandez ([email protected])
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed to the parish office during the week. The office is closed on weekends, but the church remains open for scheduled Masses, Adoration, and Reconciliation.
- Mailing address: 300 S. Tarver Ave, Lebanon, Tennessee 37087
- Phone: 615-444-0524
- General email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM (closed Saturday and Sunday)
- Web: https://www.sfctn.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Cunningham1915
Celebrated the first Mass in Lebanon in the home of John J. Martin, Sr.
- Rev. Samuel Stritchc. 1922
Future Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago; celebrated Mass several times in the Martin home on West Spring Street.
- Rev. Harold DesChampsfrom 1930
Stationed at the Cathedral in Nashville; began offering Mass regularly in Lebanon at Seagraves Funeral Home, the Cumberland University Chapel, and Castle Heights Military Academy.
- Rev. James Niedergesespre-1951
Later became Bishop of Nashville; added a portable altar and curtains to the Castle Heights library to give it a more church-like feel.
- Msgr. George Rohling1947–early 1950s
Originally assigned to Gallatin in 1947 and to the new Lebanon mission; obtained Bishop Adrian's permission to purchase land and build the church; oversaw construction completed 1952 and the dedication on April 19, 1953.
- Rev. Edgar M. Kellyfrom 1967
First in-resident priest of the parish.
- Rev. James Panackal, CMIassigned 2019
Pastor at the time of the parish's 70th anniversary in April 2023; presided over the Knights of Columbus picnic marking the milestone.